MultiChoice Africa has launched its accelerator programme to provide training and growth opportunities to small- and medium-sized businesses (SMMEs) across the African continent. The programme, which is part of the MultiChoice Innovation Fund, targets start-ups and small businesses in the technology sectors of health tech, agritech, fintech, edutech, the circular economy, and creative industries.
The initiative’s first phase involved public and private-sector partners in each country nominating businesses or entrepreneurs for the programme. From there, 29 start-ups embarked on an intensive virtual training course in December 2022, followed by an in-person boot camp in Lusaka, Zambia.
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The most promising of these start-ups were then invited to pitch to prospective international investors in Dubai.
This year, 11 start-ups were shortlisted to present their business plans to a panel of investors for the MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Programme. The businesses are from nine African countries and were chosen based on their potential for growth and their ability to develop tech solutions to real societal problems.
The selected start-ups are Tupuca from Angola, Taskmoby from Ethiopia, StarNews Mobile from Ivory Coast, Tendo from Ghana, Zuri Health from Kenya, Dojah Inc and Crop2Cash from Nigeria, MaTontine from Senegal, Botlhale AI and Gradesmatch South Africa, and Mighty Finance Solution from Zambia.
Fhulufhelo Badugela, CEO of MultiChoice Africa, expressed confidence in the ability of these small businesses to unlock transformative business funding by multiplying the impact of their work beyond what the founders ever believed possible.
The programme’s focus on tech industries also allows African start-ups to showcase their innovation to the world and create tech solutions to societal problems.
The impact of the MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Programme is likely to be significant, as SMMEs are proving to be the engines of economic growth and job creation throughout the African continent. In a time of high unemployment challenges and economic instability, these businesses are playing a critical role in the economic development of the region.
The launch of this programme highlights the importance of supporting start-ups and small businesses in the technology sectors, which have the potential to drive economic growth and solve societal problems.
By providing training and growth opportunities, the MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Programme is helping to empower African entrepreneurs and position them for success in a rapidly changing global economy.
The initiative is a collaboration between MultiChoice Group, Dubai-based business incubator Companies Creating Change (C3), technical partner EOH, and Galelo Africa. The programme is part of MultiChoice Africa’s commitment to driving innovation and economic development on the African continent.
As the programme progresses, it is expected to continue to support African start-ups and small businesses and contribute to the region’s economic growth and job creation.
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